Black Friday: A Chance for Bitcoin to Get Some Mainstream Love

Image credit: REUTERS/Jim Urquhart/Files By now, it's common knowledge that some people have made small (and, in some cases, not-so-small) fortunes on Bitcoin . But even though U.S. regulators and lawmakers gave bitcoins a tentative thumbs up last week, and an increasing number of merchants are accepting them as legal tender, you still can't walk into most retailers and spend them. Enter Bitcoin Black Friday , designed to harness the indefatigable spirit of American consumerism to bring the world's most popular cryptocurrency into the mainstream. Shoppers will be able to spend their digital ducats this Friday not only on gift cards to Target, Banana Republic, Sears and other major retailers, but on airline tickets, Christmas trees, organic coffee, OK Cupid memberships, alcoholic beverages, Moroccan rugs and more. More than 250 merchants are participating in the one-day sho...